A shirt worn by Brazilian football icon Pelé during the 1958 FIFA World Cup final has been sold for $4.9 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York, making it the second most expensive football jersey ever sold.

The historic sale places the shirt behind only the Argentina jersey worn by Diego Maradona during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England, in which he scored the famous “Hand of God” goal. That shirt fetched £7.1 million at auction in 2022.

According to Sotheby’s, Pelé’s shirt attracted 10 bids from more than five bidders, setting a new record as the most valuable piece of memorabilia linked to the Brazilian football legend.

The jersey had previously been auctioned in 2004 for $105,600 (£70,505), highlighting its dramatic appreciation in value over the past two decades.

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Pelé wore the iconic shirt as a 17-year-old during Brazil’s 5-2 victory over Sweden in the 1958 FIFA World Cup final.

The teenage sensation scored twice in the match, helping Brazil secure its first-ever World Cup title while becoming the youngest player in history to score in a World Cup final—a record that still stands.

Reacting to the sale, Sotheby’s Head of Sports Strategy and Development, Brendan Hawkes, described the shirt as one of football’s most significant historical artefacts.

“Today’s result is a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of one of the greatest footballers of all time,” Hawkes said.

“This shirt is not only a lasting reminder of one of the most important moments in football history, but is principally connected to the very moment that catapulted Pelé into a global sporting icon.”

The auction, themed “The Beautiful Game,” featured several other valuable football collectibles linked to some of the sport’s greatest stars.

Diego Maradona’s captain’s armband from the 1986 FIFA World Cup, including the tournament in which he famously scored against England, sold for $512,000 (£380,000).

A shirt worn by Lionel Messi during Barcelona’s dramatic 6-1 UEFA Champions League comeback victory over Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 fetched $217,600 (£161,482).

Meanwhile, David Beckham’s jersey from his 50th appearance for England at the 2002 FIFA World Cup was sold for $51,200 (£37,996).

The record-breaking auction underscores the growing global demand for historic football memorabilia, particularly items associated with some of the game’s most celebrated players and defining moments.